Posted by John/San Diego on 8/15/04 2:57am
Msg #6093
Is there still work for a New Notary?
My notary exam is scheduled a week from now. Will there still be work with so many notaries? Or maybe I should resign the exam coz I just recently found out about how many notaries there are and the signings slowing down after the refinancing boom?
Thanks in advance for any answer.
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Reply by DeeNJ on 8/15/04 7:43am
Msg #6099
If CA is anything like NJ then you should look for another career. Most newbies in NJ are having a very difficult time. Many are still trying to get in the black after, on the advice of NNA "trainers", spending $500-$900 on setting up LLCs, "training manuals", etc.
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Reply by Sylvia_FL on 8/15/04 10:00am
Msg #6101
That is a decision only you can make.
Why not go ahead and get your commission, and do notary work part time.
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Reply by JAS on 8/15/04 11:13am
Msg #6105
Good advice, Sylvia. Also if you know of any loan officer personally that helps.
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Reply by Bob/Ventura/CA on 8/15/04 1:19pm
Msg #6107
John, don't set yourself up for defeat before you allow yourself any opportunity. If you were getting out of High School today and had the grades to attend Medical school or Harvard Law, would you not take a chance on yourself, because you fear the competition? Do you really know any Doctors or Lawyers that are broke as a whole. Same thing applies with your opportunity here. Passing your exam to become a public notary does not automatically make you money. Its the service you offer and the calibar of charactor you bring to the table. Yes there are lots of notaries in California and I'm one of them, but we are not in competition because were 4 and half hours apart. Thats one less notary for you to be concerened with. Learn your trade better than your geographic competition and you will do fine. If this seems difficult for you to grasp, then this business is not right for you and you might consider mowing lawns.
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Reply by HisHughness on 8/15/04 1:35pm
Msg #6108
Bob/Ventura/CaCa opined:
***Learn your trade better than your geographic competition and you will do fine. If this seems difficult for you to grasp, then this business is not right for you and you might consider mowing lawns.***
As the former secretary-treasurer of the Green Rangers And Soil Supplementers Giving Ultimate Yard Service, I have to protest your denigration of yard men. And let me pont out, nobody eve got a finger cut off workng on a notry stamp (sorry; hard to typ with only 7 fngers).
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Reply by PAW Notary Services on 8/15/04 2:44pm
Msg #6109
Hugh, though digitally impaired, scribbled, "... nobody eve got a finger cut off workng on a notry stamp (sorry; hard to typ with only 7 fngers)."
So, Hugh, you were in the mower field for three years! 
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Reply by HisHughness on 8/15/04 3:13pm
Msg #6110
PAW inquired:
***Hugh, though digitally impaired, scribbled, "... nobody eve got a finger cut off workng on a notry stamp (sorry; hard to typ with only 7 fngers)."
So, Hugh, you were in the mower field for three years! ***
I was a yard man for more than 7 years, but I'm not sure how many more; I can't count that high anymore.
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Reply by Becca_FL on 8/15/04 3:33pm
Msg #6113
Paul, I'm glad to see you & happy that Charlie didn't bother you much. HisHughness seems to have made it through the wilderness & the grandkids. Hugh, how do you start a camp fire with just seven fingers????
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Reply by HisHughness on 8/15/04 3:49pm
Msg #6115
Beccccccca/FL queried:
***Hugh, how do you start a camp fire with just seven fingers????***
That is one strange question. Do you think I'm so old and dessicated that I can use my fingers for kindling? Well, I don't, and you shouldn't be so impolite, young lady. I use the flakes off my liver spots.
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Reply by Becca_FL on 8/15/04 4:26pm
Msg #6119
Hugh, thank you for calling me "young" and I don't think you are that old. So, now that I think about it, you have only seven fingers so, you still have thumbs? I tried lighting a match with just my little finger and thumb and it was harder than one might imagine. Oh, by the way, I had to look this one up:
des·ic·cate ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ds-kt)
v. des·ic·cat·ed, des·ic·cat·ing, des·ic·cates
v. tr.
To dry out thoroughly.
To preserve (foods) by removing the moisture. See Synonyms at dry.
To make dry, dull, or lifeless.
v. intr.
To become dry; dry out.
adj. (also -kt)
Lacking spirit or animation; arid: “There was only the sun-bruised and desiccate feeling in his mind” (J.R. Salamanca).
Hugh, I don not find you dry at all.
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Reply by Bob/Ventura/Ca on 8/15/04 3:45pm
Msg #6114
Hugh, " I have to protest your denigration of yard men" was not the the intention. Picking yard work over notary was simply a second choice. Never said that horticultor was an inferior opportunity. Spent 12 successful years owning and operating my own business in thid field. Just as you have chosen to choose from, " secretary-treasurer of the Green Rangers And Soil Supplementers Giving Ultimate Yard Service" to being a notary. If you lost three fingers from the horticulture business, this might be a strong motivater for " John "
in San Diego to consider working harder at his notary business..
Respectivly, Bob/Ventura/CA
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Reply by HisHughness on 8/15/04 3:56pm
Msg #6117
Bob/Ventura/CaCa backpedaled:
***Just as you have chosen to choose from, " secretary-treasurer of the Green Rangers And Soil Supplementers Giving Ultimate Yard Service" to being a notary. If you lost three fingers from the horticulture business, this might be a strong motivater for " John "
in San Diego to consider working harder at his notary business..
***
Just in case, I have sent John an application for GRASS GUYS. I've also suggested that if he wishes to retain all his digits, he might want to consider foregoing rotary mowers and try goats. However, if he elects not to take my advice, he could try being both a yard man and a signing agent. In which case, he obviously could call himself the Notary Rotary.
Surely, at this point we have exhausted this thread?
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Reply by Bob/Ventura/Ca on 8/15/04 4:04pm
Msg #6118
Good one Hugh! John is totally confused at this juncture, he's applying for
greens keeper as we speak at Torrey Pines golf course!!
Bob/Ventura/CA
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Reply by John/San Diego on 8/16/04 9:00am
Msg #6141
Thank you all for your reactions. I will pass my notary exam and San Diego notaries beware, I'm almost there.
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Reply by Stephanie/CA on 8/16/04 4:04pm
Msg #6163
John,
Although there are many Notary Signing Agents is California, I would never encourage you to not pursue this new endeavor.
Although things have slowed down, I seem to be busy and I am in a highly saturated are in northern CA.
I have been receiving many Helocs (Home Equity Line of Credit) assignments; they aren't complicated and can be done quite quickly. I am finding that Helocs are what many borrowers are applying for, at least in CA.
As you know, real estate in CA is outrageously high, so I am thinking that homeowners are taking some of the equity in their homes to make improvements on their current home.
In any case, do not be discouraged by what you read on these message boards.
I did see a post that recommended that you do this parttime. If possible, I recommend the same since you just starting out. I will tell you one , ok a couple of things about this industry...it is hard work and can involve alot of driving.
This is not an industry to make alot of money easily - it is very hard work. So, be prepared and good luck.
I sincerely hope the best for you,
Stephanie
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Reply by Cheryl CA on 8/16/04 12:42pm
Msg #6151
I have been a notary for over 30 years. It's the best work I've ever done, as I love to serve and help people. I promote myself constantly. My license plates read NOTARE. I have business cards everywhere. I'm getting ready to purchase ad space on the back of the grocers cash register receipts. I'm busy. Not sure what I enjoy the most now~the art of promoting and marketing my services, or actually performing the notarial service to my community. None the less, I love my work. It's not about the money, it's the journey. Recently since my nephew has been hospitalized, I've offered my services at no charge to the Sub Acute hospital staff and patient families.
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Reply by FB/CA on 8/16/04 1:07pm
Msg #6152
I'm in San Diego
John, at least give it a try. I am in San Diego and doing fine; I have the amount of work that I want. I am also a wedding coordinator and graphic artist, so I can't take too many assignments per day becaue I have other comittments, but if I wanted to go full time it would not be too hard to do so. Network and make contacts. I quickly learned to work directly for title and escrow companies, and I made a great connection when the father of the bride found out I was a notary... it happened at one of my weddings this summer, and he turns out to be the branch manager for the mortgage division of a bank... he loved the job I did as his daughter's wedding coordinator, and his way to thank me was to give my card to every one of his loan officers and to tell them to use me... so always network, you never know who you are talking to. Good luck, and have fun. http://www.berys.com/notary
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Reply by John/San Diego on 8/16/04 3:06pm
Msg #6156
Re: I'm in San Diego
Flavia, thank you so much for your positive reaction. I've seen your website and I'm impressed.
I will email you when I have more time because I also might wanna talk to you about a website and graphic design work.
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Reply by Della on 8/16/04 5:40pm
Msg #6168
John I want to Thank You for this question , I also am a newbie and was asking myself the same question fearing I had embarked on the wrong path, but with the replies you recieved it has renewed my spirt. I also enjoyed the humor of some of the replys. I have pasted the exam and I am waiting on pins and needles to recieve my commission .
Thanks again by the way anyone in northern Ca want to be my mentor??
Della
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Reply by Jnet/CA on 8/16/04 11:36pm
Msg #6180
Della and John,
I think there is room for new notaries as long as we are in it for the long haul. I believe if people went in becoming a notary or signing agent for the money it will definitely not be made overnight.
Congrats to you both. I also just found out I passed my exam and am waiting for the commission in Oakley (No. California). At the end of the month I'm taking the loan signing class through California School for Notary Public for my own knowledge since I've heard that it can help to be certified. I believe any experience that I can get from books, classes or training before I get out there will help.
Once I get all set up I'll keep reading these boards. I've found them to be helpful when some people aren't trying to scare away all the newbies.
Enjoy your week.
Jeannette
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Reply by Della on 8/17/04 9:15am
Msg #6184
Thank You Jeanettte and Congrats to you also. I will be taking my signing course in 3 weeks. I am doing the same, reading all I can I still am confused about some things but I know it will come in time . I like this board and will be coming here often. I'm near Stockton ,Lodi area.
Della
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Reply by John/San Diego on 8/18/04 12:00am
Msg #6223
Thank you all soooo much, I had never thought that my simple question would attrack so many reactions. I will be a reader of this forum as long as I will be a notary and beyond and when I gather experience in time I also will try to help other people as you all have helped me. This is a great site.
Again, thanks to all of you.
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Reply by Donna on 8/25/04 1:09pm
Msg #6680
Just had to comment on this thread since in the past month I've received both my commission and certification as a signing agent and I also wondered whether the timing was good to get in this business.
It was wonderful to read the comments from experienced notaries. In fact, since finding and joining this forum only a couple of days ago, I've read tons of helpful and humorous information that I plan to put to good use once that first assignment comes through. I agree that marketing is the key. I had a great instructor who I still keep in touch with and have plans to attend a mixer she's coordinating in October to hopefully make some contacts.
Congratulations and good luck to all the newbies and thanks to everyone for your generosity in sharing valuable information. I also plan to help others along the way as often as I can.
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